Bags



Aug' 13, 1963 R. .1. WILLIAMS Erm. 3,100,596

BAGS Filed July 1o, 1961 FIGA. 4

United States Patent O 3,109,596 BAGS Russell J. Williams, Clayton, and August F. Ottinger, St. Louis, Mo., assignors to Bemis Bro. Bag Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed July 10, 1961, Ser. No.`122,821 8 Claims. (Cl. 229-66) rlhis invention relates to bags, and more particularly to unravelable stitch type closures -for bags.

In certain respects, this invention is an improvement upon a closure such `as disclosed in United States Patent 2,978,164, issued April 4, 1961, comprising a paper tape folded around an end of a bag and extending beyond the side edges of the bag, a line of single-thread stitching driven through the tape and through the walls of the bag and unravelable by pulling it from one end, and a tab adhered to the tape over this end of the thread and adapted to be grasped and pulled away from the tape to unravel the thread. While the adhesive securing the tab to the tape is ordinarily elfective to anchor the thread against unraveling until it is desired to open the bag, in some instances the loops of thread at the end of the thread from which unraveling progresses may tend to come loose, as, for example, due to a rubbing action on the loops, or to spreading open of the end of the folded closure tape. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention more effectively to anchor the end of the thread to prevent it lfrom unraveling until it is desired to open the bag, without making it any more difiicult deliberately to unravel the thread when it is desired to open the bag. In general, this is accomplished by providing a localized application of adhesive to the loops of the thread on the looper side of the tape at the end of the tape from which unraveling of the thread progresses, and by adhering the two halves of the folded tape together at this end of the tape. As regards the latter application of adhesive, it is preferably applied spaced inward from the thread so as not to interfere with the stitching operation. lEither one or both of these applications of adhesive may be used, and they may be used per se or in conjunction with the tab or With any other type of arrangement for pulling the thread to unravel it. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a View in elevation of one end of a bag having a closure of this invention, showing the needle side;

IFlG. 2 is a View of the back of FIG. l, showing the looper side;

FIG. 3 is a vieW showing the unraveling of the thread;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4 4 of FIG. l; and,

FIG. 5 is -a view of the upper right corner of FIG. 1, showing a portion of the closure tape unfolded 4to reveal adhesive such as is applied to adhere the two halves of the tape together.

yCorresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a rnultiwall paper bag having an end closure of this invention is indicated at 1. For simplicity, the bag is shown as a two-ply bag, the inner ply being designated 3 and the outer ply 5. It will be understood that a multiwall bag usually will have more than two plies. As shown, the bag is a gusseted bag, the `gussets being indicated at 7. The closure includes a paper tape 9 folded around the end of the y IC@` bag. A line of stitching indicated at 11 is driven through the tape and through the walls of lthe bag securing together the walls adjacent the end of the bag. The length of the tape 9 is ygreater than the width of the bag, and the tape has end portions 13 and 1S which extend past the side edges of the bag. The stitching 11 extends completely throughout the length of the tape and, as shown, may be driven through a narrow paper ribbon i7 constituting a so-called filler cord located on the side of the bag which is referred to as the needle side, this side being the side which faced the needle of the sewing machine employed for stitching.

In accordance with this invention, the stitching at l11 is of a single thread readily unravelab'le `chai-n stitch type. ".[lhe single thread used for this stitching is designated |19. As will be understood by those conversa-nt with the art, the stitching is formed hy feeding the bag with the tap-e 9 folded around the end of the bag through la sewing miachine having a needle which drives loops 21* (see FIG. 2) of the thread 19 through the bag, thereby forming needle holes 2.3 in the bag (see FlGS. 3 )and 5), the loops extending from the needle side of the tape '9 through the needle holes to the other side of the tape, each loop being laid over on `the said other side and extending through the preceding loop 21. Reference may he made to United States Patent 2,978,164 `for a `detailed illu-stnation of this type tof stitching, which is unraveled with ease by taking hold of that end of the thread which is at the trailing end of the stitching in relation to the passage of the bag through the sewing machine, this being the end of the thread at that end of the stitching in the direction in which the lio-ops lare laid over (the right end iof the stitching as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings herein). It will he understood that unraveling proceeds by successively pulling out the loops 21, the pulling out of each loop lfreeing the next loop so that it may loe pulled out.

At 35 is indicated a pull tab which is releasably secured to the end portion 15 of the tape (the end from which unraveling `of the thread 19 progresses) over the thread on the needle side of the tape. The adhesive by means off which the tab is secured to the tape :appears in FIG. 3, bein-g designated 37. As shown, the tab 35 consists of a strip of paper narrower than the folded tape 9. It extends lbeyond 'the end of end portion 15 of the tape, so as to provide a projecting tah end portion 39 for easy grasping. The adhesive extends from the inner end 41 of the tab all the way to the end of the tape. it may 'be a heatscalable adhesive, paste, or any other suitable type of adhesive. At 43 in FIGS. 2 and 4 isl indicated a I.localized application yof adhesive, preferably paste, to the loops of thread `on the looper side of end portion 1S of the tape 9. This adhesive is show-n las. applied on a relatively narrow band over the loops (on the other side of the folded tape 9 from the tab 35) extending for some distance inward from the end of end portion 15 of the tape (typically for a distance of about one inch). At 45 in FIGS. 4 rand 5 is indicated an application of adhesive, such as paste, between the two halves of -the dolded t-ape 9 `for adhering together the two halves of the tape included in end portion 15 of the tape. As shown, adhesive 45 is provided in a relatively narrow band spaced inward from the thread 19 so as not to interfere with the stitching operation.

The adhesive at 37 and `43 secures the end of the thread fnom which unnaveling progresses to the tape '9; and hence anchors this end of the thread to prevent unraveling of the thread, such as might'occur in the absence of such anchoring, even under severe strains such as may occur due to dropping or other rough handling of the bag. The adhesive at 43 anchors the loops 21 at the end of the thread fno-m which unnaveling progresses and prevents the end loops from becoming loose even though there may be a rubbing action on the loops. It 'will `be observed that the thread is anchored to the tape at a point outward of the side edge of the ibag, which means that the anchor is not subject to severe strains which, when the bag is dropped, corne on the portion of the stitching which extends from one side `edge ofthe bag to the uother. With the anchor so located it is also insured that there will -be no unraveling whatsoever of the stitching inward past the side edge of the bag such ias would open up the Sbag and cause loss of its contents. The adhesive at 45 prevents the two halves of the folded tape 9 from spreading apart at the end of the thread from which unraveling progresses and thus eliminates the possibility of the loops at this end of the thread coming loose such as might otherwise occur hecause of spreading apart of the two halves of the rolded tape.

The adhesive iat 3-7 also secures the thread to pull tab 35 at a point from which unraveling of the thread may be started, i.e., it secures the end stitch of the thread to the tab. To open the bag, it is simply necessary to grasp and pull the tab. As shown in FIG. 3, the tab comes away from the tape carrying with it the thread 19, which unravels and pulls out :of the needle holes in the bag. The loops pull out readily from ladhesive 43. Adhesive 45 is not in contact with the thread, and does not impede unraveling.

In view ot' the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention lare achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As warious changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above ydescription or shown in the accompanying `drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A multiwall paper bag having at least one end closure constituted by a paper tape folded around the respective end of the bag, `a line of stitching driven through the tape and through the Walls of the bag and securing together the walls adjacent said end of the bag, the length of said tape being greater than the width of the bag and end portions of the tape extending past the side edges of the bag, the stitching extending completely throughout the length of the tape, the stitching being of a single thread readily unravelable chain stitch type which has loops extending from one side .of the tape through needle holes to the other side of the tape, each loop being laid over on the said other side of the tape, said thread being readily unravelable 'by pulling one end of the thread from one end of the tape, a tab releasably secured to said one side of the tape over said one end of the thread by adhesive and adapted to be grasped and pulled away from the tape, said adhesive also anchoring the thread against unraveling until it is desired to open .the bag and securing the thread to the tab at a point from which unraveling of Ithe thread may be started, whereby, upon grasping and pulling the tabaway from the said one end of the tape, the thread is pulled away with the tab and unraveled, and a localized application of adhesive applied over the loops of the thread on the other side of the tape at said one end of the tape, said localized application of adhesive securing the loops of the thread at said one end of the tape against coming loose due to rubbing, while permitting the loops of the thread at said one end of the tape readily to come loose when the thread is deliberately pulled to unravel it.

2. A multiwall paper bag as set 'forth in claim 1, further comprising adhesive between the two halves of the folded tape securing said halves 4together at said one end of the tape.

3. A multiwall paper bag as set forth in claim 2 wherein the adhesive between the -two halves of the folded tape is spaced inward from the thread.

4. A bag having at least one end closure constituted by a tape folded around the respective end of the bag, a line of stitching driven through the tape and through the walls of the bag and securing together the walls adjacent said end of the bag, the length of said tape being greater than the width of the bag and end portions of the tape extending past the side edges of the bag, the stitching extending completely throughout the length of the tape, the stitching being of a single thread readily unravelable chain stitch type which has loops extending from one side of the tape through needle holes to the other side of the tape, each loop being laid over on the said otherV side of the -t-ape, said thread being readily unravelable by pulling one end 0f the thread from one end of the tape, and a localized application of adhesive over the loops of the thread on the other side of the tape at said one end of the tape, said localized application of adhesive securing the loops of the thread at said one end of the tape against coming loose due to rubbing, while permitting the loops of the thread at said one end of the tape readily to come loose when the thread is deliberately pulled to unravel it.

5. A bag as set forth in claim 4, further comprising adhesive between the two halves of the folded tape securing said halves together at said one end of the tape.

6. A bag as set forth in claim 5 wherein the adhesive between the two halves of the folded tape is spaced inward from the thread.

7. A bag having at least one end closure constituted by a paper tape yfolded around the respective end of the bag, a line of stitching driven through the tape and through the walls of the bag and securing together the walls adjacent said en-d of the bag, the length of said tape being greater than the width of the bag and end portions of thetape extending past the side edges of the bag, the stitching extending completely throughout the length of the tape, the .stitching being of a single thread readily unravelable chain stitch type which has loops extending from one side of the tape through needle holes to the other side of the tape, each loop: being laid over on the said other -side of the tape, said thread being readily unravelable by pulling one end of the thread from one end of the tape, and adhesive between the two halves of the folded tape securing said halves together at said one end of the tape.

8; A bag as set iorth in claim 7 wherein the adhesive is spaced inward from the thread.

Port Oct. 24, 1950 Williams Apr. 4, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS Canada Feb. 26, Canada Feb. 26, 

1. A MULTIWALL PAPER BAG HAVING AT LEAST ONE END CLOSURE CONSTITUTED BY A PAPER TAPE FOLDED AROUND THE RESPECTIVE END OF THE BAG, A LINE OF STITCHING DRIVEN THROUGH THE TAPE AND THROUGH THE WALLS OF THE BAG AND SECURING TOGETHER THE WALLS ADJACENT SAID END OF THE BAG, THE LENGTH OF SAID TAPE BEING GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE BAG AND END PORTIONS OF THE TAPE EXTENDING PAST THE SIDE EDGES OF THE BAG, THE STITCHING EXTENDING COMPLETELY THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE TAPE, THE STITCHING BEING OF A SINGLE THREAD READILY UNRAVELABLE CHAIN STITCH TYPE WHICH HAS LOOPS EXTENDING FROM ONE SIDE OF THE TAPE THROUGH NEEDLE HOLES TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TAPE, EACH LOOP BEING LAID OVER ON THE SAID OTHER SIDE OF THE TAPE, SAID THREAD BEING READILY UNRAVELABLE BY PULLING ONE END OF THE THREAD FROM ONE END OF THE TAPE, A TAB RELEASABLY SECURED TO SAID ONE SIDE OF THE TAPE OVER SAID ONE END OF THE THREAD BY ADHESIVE AND ADAPTED TO BE GRASPED AND PULLED AWAY FROM THE TAPE, SAID ADHESIVE ALSO ANCHORING THE THREAD AGAINST UNRAVELING UNTIL IT IS DESIRED TO OPEN THE BAG AND SECURING THE THREAD TO THE TAB AT A POINT FROM WHICH UNRAVELING OF THE THREAD MAY BE STARTED, WHEREBY, UPON GRASPING AND PULLING THE TAB AWAY FROM THE SAID ONE END OF THE TAPE, THE THREAD IS PULLED AWAY WITH THE TAB AND UNRAVELED, AND A LOCALIZED APPLICATION OF ADHESIVE APPLIED OVER THE LOOPS OF THE THREAD ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TAPE AT SAID ONE END OF THE TAPE, SAID LOCALIZED APPLICATION OF ADHESIVE SECURING THE LOOPS OF THE THREAD AT SAID ONE END OF THE TAPE AGAINST COMING LOOSE DUE TO RUBBING, WHILE PERMITTING THE LOOPS OF THE THREAD AT SAID ONE END OF THE TAPE READILY TO COME LOOSE WHEN THE THREAD IS DELIBERATELY PULLED TO UNRAVEL IT. 